Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Oct 20: Though the state government is saying that it is giving special emphasis on fish export through aircrafts from the international airport here, the obstacles are not yet cleared for smooth air shipping of fresh fish.

Andhra Pradesh is leading the fish export in the country. Recently, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had informed that a team will be sent from the state to Andhra Pradesh to study the export sector there and implement the same in Karnataka. However, as the airlines are denying to carry fresh fish, the exporters of city are not able to send the same, though there is huge demand for fresh fish overseas. The fish exporters are surprised that the concerned authorities are not bothered to solve the issue.

Five years ago, fish was being exported from the city through Air India Express flight. However, the airlines people stopped carrying fish alleging that packages are getting leaked. The airport officials are ready to export fish from the international airport here. However, they say that airlines should agree as they are the carriers.

From the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, 69000 metric tonnes of fish is being exported annually. This is done through ships at NMPT. It is possible to preserve refrigerated fish for nine months. However, fresh fish has shelf life of only four days. So it needs to be shipped through aircraft.

At present fish from Mangaluru and Malpe is sent to Bengaluru, Goa, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram through trucks and exported overseas. This involves more expenditure and time.

Minister Angara said, “I will try to resolve the issue that prevents export of fish from Mangaluru international airport.”

“It is not right to have created obstruction for fish business on the pretext of silly reason. We are committed to pack the fish as per international standards. Air cargo facility for fish should be introduced from Mangaluru at the earliest,” says a fish export entrepreneur.